What We Build. What We Pass Down.

Generational Shift to Generational Opportunity

Family-owned enterprises are the cornerstone of the Canadian economy—generating nearly half of our private-sector GDP and fostering resilience, opportunity, and community. But what makes these businesses truly special isn't just their capital; it is the knowledge, relationships, and values that sustain them across decades.

Imagine if the largest transfer of wealth in our history wasn't a crisis of continuity, but a catalyst for unprecedented growth. We imagine a world where one generation's entrepreneurial spirit and community generosity seamlessly become the launchpad for the next. Through Legacy Forward, we are doing this by ensuring that the wisdom of the past and the capabilities of the future work together, setting the standard for sustainable family enterprise across Canada.

Navigating the Succession

Canada’s family businesses have entered the most consequential transition in their history. Within the next three to five years, an astonishing 73 per cent of small- and medium-sized family businesses plan to transition leadership.

When a family business fails during transition, the loss extends far beyond its owners. It ripples outward, devastating employees, suppliers, and local economies. Crucially, it also threatens the social fabric of our country: family-owned businesses contribute an estimated 55 per cent of all charitable donations in Canada. Without specialized, proactive support, we are facing a trillion-dollar generational risk.

Built strong for what comes next.

Your gift to Legacy Forward transforms this generational risk into a lasting engine for Canadian prosperity. A philanthropic investment in the Alberta Business Family Institute (ABFI) creates an impact that echoes across generations.

You will directly prevent the loss of enterprise value during highly vulnerable leadership transitions, keeping businesses, jobs, and investments productive within Canada. More than that, your support ensures that the compassion, values, and community philanthropy that drive family enterprises are preserved and championed for decades to come.

What Your Gift Will Make Possible

With your partnership, ABFI will scale its 23 years of proven expertise into a National Centre of Excellence at the University of Alberta. Your investment actively supports the U of A’s mission to drive research, teaching, and community engagement by creating a permanent support ecosystem for business families.

Your strategic investment delivers measurable outcomes across four pillars:

• Economic Continuity: Protects enterprise value during leadership transitions.
• Preservation of Values: Sustains local philanthropy and social investment.
• Technological Resilience: Advances research integrating data analytics in family models.
• Stronger Foundations: Protects family relationships and equips leaders for sustained growth.

By investing in Legacy Forward, you ensure that family businesses don't have to start from scratch with each generation. Together, we can ensure that what has been built over decades is not simply handed over—but thoughtfully and successfully carried forward.

Let’s Build What Comes Next, Together.